American Samoa

American Samoa is a US territory in Polynesia, distinct from the independent state of Samoa. Pago Pago is its capital and principal harbour.

Find American Samoa

● Capital · Gold highlights this card’s area.
Map: Natural Earth. Boundaries show geographic context, not a position on sovereignty. Small islands may use enlarged markers.

At a glance

Capital: Pago Pago
Languages: English & Samoan
Currency: United States dollar (USD)
Population: 46,0292025 · World Bank
Area: 199 km²76.83 square miles
Status: US territoryCession agreements in 1900 and 1904.

American Samoa in context

Oceania and its surrounding regions. The dot marks Pago Pago; the mapped territory is highlighted in gold.

Natural Earth · locator map

Geography & languages

Physical geography

Five volcanic islands with rugged peaks and limited coastal plains, two coral atolls (Rose Atoll, Swains Island).

Languages

Languages used in public life include English, Samoan.

Location

Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand.

Flag

A large white triangle edged in red is based on the right side and extends to the left side, and it is on a dark blue field; a bald eagle holding a Samoan war club ( fa'alaufa'i ) and a coconut-fiber fly whisk ( fue ) sits on the right side of the flag

Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived profile

History & status

The Samoan archipelago developed its own chiefly institutions long before European contact. Tutuila and nearby islands were ceded to the United States in 1900, followed by the Manuʻa islands in 1904. American Samoa remains a US territory, distinct from the independent state of Samoa. Local government combines elected institutions with the continuing importance of Samoan communal land and chiefly traditions.

1900
Tutuila and nearby islands are ceded to the United States
1904
The Manuʻa islands are ceded to the United States
1967
The revised territorial constitution takes effect
1977
Voters elect the territory’s Governor for the first time

Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived profile

Economy

Main activities

Tuna processing and the public sector are important sources of employment and income. Shipping, retail, construction and local services support the economy, while agriculture and fishing also contribute to household livelihoods. Remoteness and dependence on imported goods increase transport costs.

Industry and production

Tuna canning, port services, retail, construction and government services.

Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived profile

Population & economic trends

Dated World Bank observations. Population uses selected years; real GDP uses all available annual observations.

Population, 1970–2025

Thousands of people

46.02025 · thousands of people

Population estimates may be revised. Selected years are shown.

Sources: World Bank · Population

View data table

Population: source values and plotted units
Year	People	Thousands of people
1970	27,026	27.026
1980	32,403	32.403
1990	46,640	46.640
2000	56,855	56.855
2010	55,228	55.228
2020	49,761	49.761
2025	46,029	46.029

Real GDP, 2002–2022

Billions of constant 2015 US dollars

0.662022 · billions of constant 2015 US dollars

Constant prices adjust for inflation. This is total economic output, not current-dollar GDP or income per person. Missing years are left as gaps.

Sources: World Bank · Real GDP

View data table

Real GDP: source values and plotted units
Year	Constant 2015 US$	Billions of constant 2015 US dollars
2002	744,923,664	0.745
2003	752,116,031	0.752
2004	755,198,473	0.755
2005	752,116,031	0.752
2006	721,291,603	0.721
2007	734,648,855	0.735
2008	715,126,718	0.715
2009	685,329,771	0.685
2010	687,384,733	0.687
2011	687,384,733	0.687
2012	657,587,786	0.658
2013	641,148,092	0.641
2014	652,450,382	0.652
2015	673,000,000	0.673
2016	661,697,710	0.662
2017	615,461,069	0.615
2018	631,900,763	0.632
2019	628,818,321	0.629
2020	656,560,305	0.657
2021	651,422,901	0.651
2022	662,725,191	0.663

Government

An unincorporated, unorganized territory of the United States with an elected Governor and a two-chamber legislature, the Fono. Senators are selected through traditional chiefly procedures and representatives are elected. The US Department of the Interior has federal oversight responsibilities.

Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived profile

Knowledge check

Three questions about American Samoa.

QUESTION 1 OF 3

In which year did this event occur in American Samoa: The revised territorial constitution takes effect?

Sources & notes

Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived profile

Prepared 24 September 2026. World Bank series: SP.POP.TOTL (persons) and NY.GDP.MKTP.KD (constant 2015 US dollars); downloaded 24 September 2026, provider update 13 July 2026. UNDP values use the 2025 report and 2023 observation year. These are dated statistical snapshots, not live population or economic counters.

Maps use Natural Earth geographic data. Background geography, flag descriptions and selected historical facts use archived public-domain CIA World Factbook profiles, supplemented by the sources linked above. The Factbook is no longer updated; dated statistics here come from the separately named providers.